Two things that have gotten me to where I am currently...
People often ask me “How did you get into the (film) industry” and I wish I had some crazy serendipitous story to share with y’all, but it’s really just not that glamorous!
We see fellow artists in the industry whether they be photographers, cinematographers or musicians, and we automatically assume they are so lucky to be successful in what they do, and we subconsciously and almost instantaneously put them up on a pedestal. However, let’s not be so quick to determine their rise to success has been smooth sailing, because I am here to let you in on a little secret from my journey…
years ago, I failed my first ever practical exam at Film school. Yep. Flunked, failed, the big fat F. not the greatest start in my studies huh!
I also had far less technical experience than my fellow class mates, and I lacked the confidence in some areas, BUT, I had a vision, a creative eye and two things that have seen me start out as an intern videographer to now running my own small business, having photographed for world-wide publications, successfully shoot a video campaign for a global brand that has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager, work with amazing clients and people weekly, as well as continuing to learn and grow within the industry and within my craft.
These two things are;
Passion and Purpose.
If you have been following along with my journey for a while now, you will know I regularly speak fondly of these two qualities. Passion is what keeps me motivated and driven to grow and gain more clients for my business, pull the long nights and early mornings, sacrifice weekends to work and meet deadlines, and believe in myself when others may not, whilst purpose is simply the knowing I have inside that I am on the right path and exactly where I am meant to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing in this life.
I definitely could have given up many times, said it was “too hard”, took the knock backs personally, and let self doubt determine my future because let’s be real, you have to fall to fly and sometimes you just have to risk it for the biscuit. This is the motto I adopted when I first started in my business whilst building it up from the ground with not many (if any) contacts, not sure how to gain clients or even be seen by potential clients, minimal marketing knowledge, (the list goes on really!)
So I took a leap, and paved the path I wanted and needed in order to achieve success. I take risks (I am still learning to take more as the years roll on), and if I don’t know something, I say yes and then teach myself. If you have an idea, a vision, a goal or a dream, just take the first right step (aka the one that feels good) and then the next right steps will follow.
